Wet grinding attachment for valve resurfacing machines



March 4, 1941. Q Q wg 2,233,568

WET GRINDING ATTACHMENT FOR VALVE RESURFACING MACHINES Filed Aug. 26, 19159 3 Sheets-Sheet l W119i, gm

March 1941- G. c. WILHIDE 233.5 8

WET GRINDING ATTACHMENT FOR VALVE RESURFACING MACHINES Filed Aug. 26, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 [II-IIIIIIIIIIIIII v awe/MM 626m L. T/Vilhide Wifna v @354 March 4-, 1941. c wlLHlDE 2,233,568

.WET GRINDING ATTACHMENT FOR VALVE RESURFACING MACHINES Filed Aug. 26, 1959 s sheets-sheet 3 I mm Glenn aT/ViZhia e ilam I Patented Mar. 4, 1941 PATENT OFFICE WET GRINDING ATTACHMENT FOR VALVE RESURFACING MACHINES Glenn C. Wilhide, Towson, Md., assignor to The Black and Decker Manufacturing Company, a corporation of Maryland Application August 26, 1939, Serial No. 292,019

14 Claims.

Under the existing conditions incident to relatively hard valves, increased grinding speeds and quick cutting abrasives, the use of a coolant in grinding is an important feature. Cooling has been accomplished by means of a supply of water obtained direct from the mains involving excess waste, dimculties incident to disposal and troublesome dripping and spray which wet the machine and the operator and the surrounding fioo-r. Though various shields and protecting devices have been applied, they are on one hand not fully effective and on the other hand they involve an excessive loss of time and efiiciency on account of the inaccessibility of the valve and '15 chuck, due to the difficulty in removing the ground valve and also in the installation in grinding position of the valve to be ground, and, further on account of the difficulty in changing grinding wheels because the guard or shield make the wheels relatively inaccessible for the removal and likewise for the installation of new grinding wheels.

The present invention provides a wet grinding system which avoids the use of an excess supply 2 of water, the circulation being continuous and the system is further provided with means for separating the detached grit which is removed with the coolant from the portion of the liquid which is returned to the face of the wheel to tion.

The invention also provides a wheel guard and a valve guard or splash guard which together prevent escape of the water by spraying from 35 the wheel and from the work which is also rotated, the work guard being drained into the wheel guard from which the water is returned to the reservoir for separation and recirculation and projection onto the wheel for cooling. Also in the most approved form of the invention, the wheel guard is conveniently removable to provide for changing the wheel and the valve guard is mounted to swing out of line with the valve spindle to provide for instantaneous removal of the ground valve and insertion of a new valve to be ground, further the valve guard in all positions overlies a receiving basin or lip on the wheel guard from which the water is returned for recirculation and the two guards thus giving access to the work and a full View of the work and the grinding contact area combine to form a single sprayproof and dripproof enclosure for the work and wheel preventing the discharge of water in any way from the cooling system.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illusaccomplish further cooling in the grinding operatrated so much of a valve refacer as is necessary for a full understanding of the application of the invention, the same being equipped with a wet grinding attachment embodying the features of the invention in what is at present regarded as the preferred form.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a valve refacer equipped with a wet grinding attachment.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the wheel guard and spindle guard and wheel spindle housing, the latter fragmentarily shown, drawn to a relatively enlarged scale, the valve guard being swung to the valve receiving and removing position.

Fig. 3 isa section on the line 3-3 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a section through the reservoir on the line 44 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the wheel guard and the valve guard drawn to an intermediate scale and looking from the operators position which is the position of the observer in Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is an elevation of the same construction, looking from the side opposite to the observer in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary elevation of the pump shown in Fig. 1, looking at the same in the direction of the arrow in said figure.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, each of which is used to indicate the same or similar parts in the different figures, the machine as shown comprises a base I, upon which is mounted a grinder wheel motor 2, which drives the grinding wheel 3, which rotates in the direction of the arrows in Figs. 3 and 5 and. is enclosed within the grinder wheel guard or casing 4. In Fig. 1, the motor 2 and grinding wheel 3 are shown as mounted on a suitable carriage 5, which is adjustable by means of a hand wheel 6, toward and from the position of the work the latter being shown in the form of valve I.

The work spindle 8 which embodies or carries a suitable valve stem chuck 9 is driven by means of a small work spindle motor III on a carriage II which is adjustable in the direction of the wheel axis by means of a hand wheel I2.

The work spindle 8 is rotatively connected to motor I0 by means of suitable reducing gears shown in the form of belts and pulleys I4, I5, I6, I'I, I8 and I9, which it seems unnecessary to specifically describe.

In the form of the invention illustrated a pump '25, shown in the form of an ordinary gear pump is mounted on the end of the shaft of an intermediate pulley I5 of the reducing gear described.

The pump and the details of mounting are not important, any type of pump, mounted and driven in any suitable manner, being adaptable to this purpose.

In the form shown, the pump 20 delivers by way of a flexible pipe or tube 2| to the wheel guard 4, the details of delivery and discharge by way of nozzle 33 to be later described. The suction of the pump is connected by a similar tube 22, to the reservoir 24, to be further described, the water or other liquid being returned from the wheel guard 4 by way of a return pipe 25.

The valve head, the seating surface of which is being ground, is enclosed during the grinding operation by a valve guard 26, which, in the form shown, is pivotally mounted on the grinding wheel guard 4, other suitably placed pivotal support being feasible.

The reservoir 24, in the form of the invention shown, is of cup shape having a removable cap or cover 2! and preferablyis of a downwardly reducing taper to provide convenient engagement with the band 28 of a bracket 29 by which it is secured to the base I, the details of shape and mounting not being of primary importance.

In the form shown, the reservoir is divided by a partition 30 into two compartments of reservoir chambers 30' and 30", the latter in the form shown, being smaller. In the preferred arrangement illustrated, the reservoir 24 is mounted at a low point on the assembly below the level of ,the grinding wheel guard being shown partially beneath the motor 2.

According to this arrangement, the water is accumulated at, and discharged from the guard 4, by way of the pipe 25 for this purpose the low rear'end of the guard at 25', is preferably in line with the spray from the wheel at the point of grinding as shown by arrows (at) in Fig. 3 and is therefore the most convenient point for accumulation of the water and grit discharged from the grinding area. This pipe 25 enters the top of the reservoir 24 immediately above and discharges into the settling compartment 30. On account of the excess volume of the compartment 30", the discharged water remains in this compartment for a considerable period, the dust and grit removed by the water from the 'wheel guard 4 is thus permitted to settle.

Spaced above the bottom of the reservoir 24 is an opening 3| through the partition 30, this permits the water or other liquid from which the grit and dust has settled out, to pass into the chamber 33" from which it is drawn by way of the suction pipe 22. The ends of this pipe and the ends of the discharge pipe 25 are mounted in the cover 21 and the pipe 22 is provided at its intake end with a stiff tube 22' which extends downwardly through the cover 21 into the chamber 30".

Thus the reservoir 24 is provided with means for settling and separating the grit and dust from the guard 4 and providing clean water or other liquid for application to the grinding wheel at the point of grinding.

The pipe 2| leading forwardly from the delivery side of the pump 20 as illustrated, particularly in Figs. 1 and 3, terminates at its forward end in a tube 2| which, in the form of the invention shown, passes through a suitably bored tubular boss 32 on the top of the grinding wheel guard or casing 4. This tube 2| at its forward end is curved forwardly and downwardly terminating in a nozzle 33 which discharges downwardly in the direction of rotation of the wheel ing these pipes.

being directed at the grinding area or tangent 34, where the valve head 1 the seating surface of which is ground contacts the Wheel.

The motion of the wheel as well as the force of discharge from the nozzle causes the coolant to be sprayeddownwardly and rearwardly toward the opening 25 leading to the return pipe 25, the

location and path of the spray causing it to carry casting 35 being threaded into the inwardly disposed peripheral flange 4 on the guard which contacts flange 35 on the housing 35. The

flange 4", Fig. 6, is on the side of the guard 4.

which is remote from the observer in Fig. 1. The screw 31' passes through a slot 31", in the flange 35' being seated at its end in the guard and being threadedly engaged outside the flange 35' by the wing nut 31.

By loosening the screw 36 and removing the wingnut 31, the guard can be rotated through a slight angle thus allowing the head of the screw '36 to enter and pass through the enlarged end 36" of the slot 36' in the spindle housing flange 35'. In this position of the parts the guard can be withdrawn from the spindle housing flange,

being sufficient for this purpose. The opening 39 provides for the removal of the guard from the wheel either to the extent of the flexibility of the flexible pipes or tubes 2| and 25 or by disconnect- Fig. 2 shows a rib '35" on the flange 35 of housing casting 35 which projects into the opening 39 in the guard to position the guard.

The grinding wheel guard 4 is further provided with a projecting lip 40 which extends to the right which is the working side of the wheel as seen in Fig. 5, projecting beyond the work or valve 1 in Fig. 1, and the valve guard or work guard 26, particularly as to its lower rear end 41 from which liquid coolant caught by guard 26 should be discharged, overlies this lip 40 in all positions as hereinafter described.

The valve guard 26 which is an important feature of the invention, is open on the side toward the operator at 4| the operators position being at the bottom of the drawings in Figs. 1 and 2, and the wheel guard 4 has a concave edge 42 comprising the grinding tangent or area 34 so that the'work and the wheel are fully exposed adjacent at and around the point of application of the valve to the wheel. Surrounding the opening 4| in the valve guard as to the lower half of the same, is a flange 43 which with the excess width of the floor 43' of the valve guard prevents the overflow of water on the open side of'the wheel guard. This valve guard is of short U shape as seen in side elevation Fig. 6, and in cross section Fig. 3, the lips 26' and curve 26 of the U projecting forwardly from the wheel guard in the direction of the plane of rotation of the wheel so that it encloses the valves sulficiently to prevent spraying. The valve guard 26, as shown is pivotally connected to the wheel guard 4 at the top and bottom by means of pivot the clearance of the guard relatively to the wheel pins or screws 44 connecting ears 45 on the wheel guard and corresponding ears 46 on the valve guard, thus providing for the swinging of .the valve guard into and out of working position; the working position in which the valve guard is secured by spring clip 55 and 55 being shown in Fig. 1, and the non-working position in which the valves are inserted and withdrawn in Fig. 2.

As well illustrated in Fig. 2, the valve guard 26 is open toward the wheel guard at 4'! and for the entire height of the valve guard, etc., for access to the work and to admit and release the work and. to provide for the discharge of the water collected thereinr'. For this! purpose the discharge opening 41 in the valve guard and particularly the bottom lip 41' thereof is in both and all positions of the valve guard over the lip '40 of the Wheel guard and the flange 43 has its rear edge 43' terminated over the lip 40 in both positions and in all positions between the work- 'ing position and the work releasing and both said positions. In addition to being open at the front to expose the work as illustrated at 4!, in Fig. 5, the valve guard is also open at the top, the top opening being protected by flanges 48 and 49 to prevent the spraying of water upwardly and forwardly. The top opening permits the operator to observe the work not only from the front side, i. e., the side toward the operator but from above as well, the upper opening as Well as the side opening being so located as to give a full view of the work and working tangent assuming that the workmans eyes are positioned somewhat to the right of the wheel as shown in Fig. 5.

It will be apparent that in operation, the valveguard, the swing of which is limited by the stop pin 50 engaging the flange 40 or the lip 40 can be instantaneously swung from working position to the open or non-working position shown in Fig. 2 for the insertion or removal of the work, and, likewise, instantaneously returned to work ing position in which in cooperation with the wheel guard, it completely prevents the discharge of water which is circulated continuously incontact with the grinding tangent 34 and that when, for any reason, it is desired to change the Wheel, the nut 31 being removed, the guard can be slightly rotated as illustrated in Fig. 6, bringing the enlarged portion 36" of the slot 36 into registration with the screw 36 at which time the wheel guard can be freely removed carrying the work or valve guard with it.

It is also of importance that by means of any type of pump of which a satisfactory example is shown at 20 in Fig. 1, the liquid is kept in continuous circulation dispensing of the necessity for a continuous supply of the liquid coolant. In this way, a continuous stream is supplied to the working tangent without the necessity of an excessively large supply of water or other liquid, a suflicient amount to change the supply in the machine from time to time being all that is necessary. It will be noted that the reservoir provides satisfactory separation of the grit from the water or other liquid, the grit being heavy and subject to quick separation and further the water removes the grit from the wheel casing or guard and not only cools the work during the grinding operation but completely eliminates the dust and grit from the dry grinding operation. This is of great importance as this floating dirt or grit is exceedingly troublesome and harmful to the workman, interfering, under some circumstances, with'th'e correctness of the grinding operation and also constitutes a menace to the health.

The guards as shown serve not only to retain and return the liquid for recirculation but to prevent harmful wetting of the machine, the floor of the shop and the person of the operator or those in the vicinity.

I have thus described an apparatus embodying my invention in the preferred form in order that the manner of constructing, applying, operating and using the invention may be fully understood, however, the features and details shown and described are mainly illustrative and. capable of wide variation within the intent of the disclosure, the specific terms herein being used in a descriptive rather than in a limiting sense and the scope of the invention being defined in the claims. I

What I claimas new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination in a valve seat grinder for poppet valves and the like, having a grinding wheel and a rotating chuck for the valve to rotate the valve being ground, in grinding relation to the wheel surface, providing a. grinding area, of means for directing liquid coolant'toward said grinding area, a receptacle for liquid coolant having means for separating the liquid containing grit from the liquid which is supplied to the wheel providing a continuous supply of clean liquid, a pump having its discharge end connected to said liquid coolant directing means and its intake connected to said clear liquid supply, a wheel guard surrounding said wheel for collecting said liquid, a splash guard adapted to partially enclose the valve and having an opening to give the operator a view of, the work said splash guard being movably mounted to admit the valve to the chuck and provide for its release therefrom and connections for returning the liquid from both'said guards to said separating means.

2. The combination in a valve seat grinder for poppet valves and the like, having a grinding wheel and a rotating chuck for the valve to rotate the valve being ground in grinding relation to the wheel surface, providing a grinding area, of a nozzle directed toward said grinding area, a receptacle for liquid coolant having means for separa'ting the liquid containing grit from the liquid which is supplied to the whee1 providing a continuous supply of clean liquid, a pump having its discharge end connected to said nozzle and its intake connected to said clear liquid supply, a wheel guard surrounding said wheel for collecting said liquid and connections for returning the liquid from said guard to said separating means, a valve guard partially enclosing the valve being ground and in cooperation with said wheel guard for retaining and returning the liquid coolant collected thereby and means associated with the wheel guard for collecting the coolant from the valve guard.

3. The combination in a valve seat grinder for poppet valves and the like, having a grinding wheel and a rotating chuck for the valve to rotate the valve being ground in grinding relation to the wheel surface, providing a grinding area, of a nozzle directed toward said grinding area, a receptacle for liquid coolant having means for separating the liquid containing grit from the liquid which is supplied to the wheel providing a continuous supply of clean liquid, a pump having its discharge end connected to said nozzle and its intake connected to said clear liquid supply, a wheel guard surrounding .said wheel and :con-

nections for returning the liquid from said guard to said separating means, a valve guard pivotly mounted relatively to the wheel guard to provide a working position and a work receiving and releasing position, the valve guard being adapted to discharge into the wheel guard in both positions.

4. The combination in a valve seat grinder for poppet valves and the like, having a grinding wheel with a spindle and a spindle housing and a rotating chuck for the valve to rotate the valve being ground in grinding relation to the wheel surface, providing a grinding area, of a nozzle directed toward the grinding area, means for supplying a liquid coolant to said nozzle a wheel guard surrounding said wheel and removably secured to said housing and enclosing said wheel the grinding portion being exposed, a valve guard pivo-tly connected to said wheel guard, the wheel guard having a lip projecting forwardly beneath the valve guard which is open toward the wheel and at the top and side opposite to expose the work to the operator, said valve guard being adapted :to swing about said pivotal connection relatively to the wheel guard from a working position substantially enclosing th work except for said open portion preventing the discharge of spray from the wheel guard or valve guard to a work releasing and admitting position.

5. The combination in a valve seat grinder for poppet valves and the like, having a grinding wheel with a spindle and a spindle housing and a rotating chuck for the valve to rotate the valve being ground in grinding relation to the wheel surface, providing a grinding area, of a nozzle directed toward th grinding area, means for supplying liquid coolant to said nozzle, a wheel guard surrounding said wheel and removably secured to said housing and enclosing said Wheel the grinding portion being exposed, a valve guard pivotly connected to said Wheel guard, the wheel guard having a lip projecting forwardly beneath the valve guard which is open toward the wheel and at thetop and side opposite to expose the work to the operator said valve guard being adapted to swing about said pivotal connection relatively to the wheel guard from a working position substantiallylenclosing the work except for said open portion preventing the discharge of spray from the wheel guard or valve guard, to a work releasing and admitting position, the open end of the valve guard being over said lip and in liquid discharging relation thereto in both said positions.

6. The combination in a valve seat grinder for poppet valves and the like, having a grinding wheel with a spindle and a spindle housing and a rotating chuck for the valve to rotate the valve being ground in grinding relation to the Wheel surface, providing a grinding area, of a nozzle directed toward the grinding area, a receptacle for liquid having means for separating the incoming liquid containing grit from the liquid which is supplied to the wheel, a pump having its discharge end connected to said nozzle and its intake connected to the cleaned liquid side of said separating means, a wheel guard surrounding said wheel and remo-vably secured to said housing the grinding portion being exposed, connections for returning the liquid from said guard to said separating means, a valve guard movably connected to said wheel guard, the wheel guard having a lip projecting forwardly beneath the valve guard which is open toward the wheel guard and at the top and side to permit the operator to observe the grinding area and work, said valve a rotary chuck for rotating a poppet valve ingrinding contact with the wheel, of means for directing liquid coolant toward the grinding area, a wheel guard and a valve guard mounted for movement relatively to the Wheel guard and open on one side to provide a view of the work and grinding area and adapted to retain coolant from said grinding area, the valve guard also being open toward the wheel guard, the combined guards forming a single chamber enclosing the Wheel and valve except as to said openings and serving to collect all liquid coolant from said nozzle and discharge means connected with the wheel guard for discharging said coolant collected by both of the said guards.

8. The combination with a grinding wheel and a, rotary chuck for rotating a poppet valve in grinding contact with the wheel, of a nozzle for liquid coolant directed at the grinding area, a wheel guard and valve guardopen on one side to provide a view of the work and grinding area and adapted to retain liquid coolant from said nozzle, the valve guard also being open toward the wheel guard and movable relatively thereto, the combined guards forming a single chamber enclosing the wheel and valve except as to said openings and serving to collect all liquid coolant from said nozzle, the wheel guard projecting beneath the valve guard to provide for draining of the valve guard and means for supplying liquid coolant to the nozzle and discharging the same from the Wheel guard.

9. The combination with a grinding wheel and a rotary chuck for rotating a poppet valve in grinding contact with the wheel, of a nozzle for liquid, coolant directed at the grinding area, a wheel guard and a valve guard mounted for movement relatively to the wheel guard and open on one side to provide a view of the work and grinding area andadapted to retain coolant from said nozzle, the valve guard also being open toward the wheel guard, the combined guards forming a single chamber enclosing the wheel and valve except as to said openings and serving to collect all liquid coolant from said nozzle, a settling reservoir at a lower level than the guard, a drain pipe connecting the low point of the guard to the reservoir, a pump having its discharge connected to said nozzle and its suction'connected to said reservoir.

10. The combination with a grinding wheel and a rotary chuck for rotating a poppet valve in grinding contact with the wheel, of a nozzle for liquid coolant directed at the grinding area and connected to a supply of liquid under pressure, a Wheel guard and valve guard having openings providing a view of the work and grinding area 11. The combination with a grinding wheel having a spindle and a spindle housing and a rotary. chuck for a poppet valve adapted to hold the valve in grinding contact with the wheel of means for projecting coolant on the wheel and valve at the said contact of a valve guard and a wheel guard to retain the liquid, the wheel guard being open around the grinding area, on the side opposite the spindle housing, and the valve guard being open on the same side and on the top and 1 having means in connection with said openings for releasing the liquid, and the valve guard being pivotally mounted on the wheel guard to protect the valve and prevent discharge of water therefrom during the grinding operation.

12. The combination with a grinding wheel having a spindle and a spindle housing and a rotary chuck for a poppet valve adapted to hold the valve in grinding contact with the wheel, of means for projecting coolant on the wheel and valve at the said contact of a valve guard and a wheel guard to retain the liquid, the wheel guard being open around the grinding area, on the side opposite the spindle housing, and the valve guard being open on the same side and on the top and having means in connection with said openings for releasing the liquid, and the valve guard being pivotally mounted on the wheel guard to protect the valve and prevent discharge of water therefrom during the grinding operation, one guard having a lip projecting beneath the other guard in all positions of the valve guard.

13. The combination with a valve resurfacing machine having a grinding wheel and a rotary chuck for the valves to rotate them in contact with the grinding wheel providing a grinding area and means for supplying liquid coolant to the grinding area of a wheel guard enclosing the wheel and having an opening outward radially opposite the grinding area, a valve guard open toward the wheel guard and movably connected to said wheel guard to provide a working position with said openings in registration and a work removing and receiving position, said guardsbeing open at the side of the valve and at the grinding area and above the valve and having means carried by said guards adjacent said openings to prevent discharge of the coolant.

14. The combination with a valve resurfacing machine having a grindingwheel and a rotary chuck for the valves to rotate them in contact with the grinding wheel, providing a grinding area, of a wheel guard enclosing the wheel and having an opening outward radially opposite the grinding area, a valve guard open toward the wheel guard and movably connected to said wheel guard to provide a working position with said openings in registration and a work removing and receiving position, said guards being open at the side of the valve and at the grinding area and above the valve and having means carried by said guards adjacent said openings to prevent discharge of the coolant, the two guards having a common drainage path and one guard projecting beneath a low open portion of the other in all positions of the valve guard.

GLENN C. WILHIDE. 

